Michigan beat Maryland by seven. Same as they did last year. It was a struggle in the week prior to The Game. Same as it was last year. Last year was pretty good. Let’s do the same this Saturday as we did last year.
Could have lost that one, no doubt. Couple of bounces in the other direction, and we’re feeling a lot different today licking our wounds and not laughing nearly as hard at how bad Lil Bro looks.
Really solid tailgate with lots of food and participation, just how I like it. Spirited, intoxicated, and served with a side of Steve’s midriff. Full game page lives here.
I don't know what I was expecting out of the Wolverines today, but I know what I was expecting out of a Maryland team that had dropped their last two: their absolute best. And that might have been what we saw, arguably the best starting five in the country bringing their A-game, in which case we can continue to hope. Maybe the stark reality of Caris not returning is finally kicking in. No where to go. No one to lean on. Walton and Irvin need to lead. Donnal needs to be what he was today, crafty and scrappy. Someone needs to come off that bench every game the rest of the way like Kameron Chatman did today. Hit threes. Win.
It's been a season of extreme's, as we find ourselves either pleasantly surprised or greatly disappointed depending on the team that shows up. Some ugly wins, but (until tonight) not a lot of feel good losses...if there is such a thing. We're caught in limbo, bitching about Beilein and his foul policies one minute, and wondering how he masterfully makes this youth-filled rag tag bunch competitive the next. A text message I received when the Wolverines took the lead said "I am convinced Beilein is a witch." Another said "if he doesn't take Doyle out right now he should be fired." Extremes. And that was how the game went today. Amazingly competitive with everybody playing bigger and better than they are one minute, completely inept and scared the next, falling victims to dribble penetration again and again and again. They were a little more of the former though, showing a fortitude that has been lacking in the other losses they've had this year. They hung tough with whatever version of Maryland this was before falling 86-82.
We've danced with less.
Pretty sure the Wolverines need to win their remaining three games to lock in that tourney bid, a tall order considering how Wisky seems to finally be getting it together, and that our final game is against Iowa. I think two out of three would require a not-early exit from the B1G tourney. Seth Davis played carnival barker at halftime, reminding the nation (and the selection committee) how the Big Ten shit the bed in the non-conference and claimed that 5 should be all that make it. Hard to argue. Their not going to take OSU, Wisconsin and us to make 8 that's for sure, and we just got our asses handed to us in Columbus, making next Sunday night's affair in Madison all the more important...meanwhile not sleeping on Chris Collins and the Wildcats on Wednesday.
We interrupt the longest in season between-post break in UMTailgate.com history, in this the worst football season ever, to announce a change in theme for Saturday. In short, it's too cold to fry turkeys...more to the point it's too cold to pre-smoke the turkeys...so we are switching the theme for the final home game under Brady Hoke to "Soups and Stews and Filet Finale."
I'm bringing a chili and the sausage and cheese chowder and I'll have them on the double boiler all day. Gus is bringing the steaks and we'll have them sizzling around noon, likely with a side of loaded smashed potatoes and a mushroom gravy.
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